Surge chambers employing flexible membranes



Oct. 17, 1967 L. E. RUSSELL SURGE CHAMBERS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 27, 1960 1 ma T wa me a 5 u M Z Oct. 17, 1967 L. E. RUSSELL SURGE CHAMBERS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES p iginal Filed July 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofiice 3,347,273 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,347,273 SURGE CHAMBERS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES Linus E. Russell, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Peters and Russell, Inc, Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 381,141, now Patent No. 3,255,779, dated June 14, 1966, which is a division of application Ser. No. 45,641, July 27, 1960, now Patent No. 3,149,576, dated Sept. 22, 1964. Divided and this application Oct. 22, 19 65, Ser. No. 501,290

2 Claims. (Cl. 138-30) This is a division of the present inventors application Ser. No. 381,141 for Surge Chamber filed July 8, 1964, now Patent No. 3,255,779 dated June 14, 1966 and a further division of application Ser. No. 45,641 filed July 27, 1960 for Pump, now Patent No. 3,149,576 dated Sept. 22, 1964.

This invention relates to improvements in surge chambers employing flexible membranes. Such devices have particular utility in application to bilge pumps and will be so described.

Bilge pumps are often plagued with operational problems. They are prone to be noisy and erratic in use. To overcome such problems, the present invention provides means constituting a surge chamber which, when suitably applied, can produce a bilge or other diaphragm type pump which is not only simply constructed but quiet and steady in operation. While the invention embodiments are achieved by structure of comparative simplicity, they are nevertheless capable of enabling maximum pump efficiency at minimal cost.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide improvements in surge chambers for bilge type pumps and like equipment which render such apparatus more economical to manufacture, more efficient and satisfactory in use, more versatile in application and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to provide for dia phragm type pumps a novelly improved surge chamber employing flexible membranes or diaphragms in its construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide pump surge chambers which are simply constructed and capable of enabling maximum pump efliciency at a minimal cost.

An additional object of the invention is to provide surge chambers, the application of which to a bilge pump or the like produces a smooth, quiet, non-pulsating pumping action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple compact device affording an improved surge chamber the function of which is enhanced by a novel incorporation of diaphragm type control elements.

An additional object of the invention is to provide surge chambers for application to bilge type pumps and the like possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above and other incidental objects in view 'as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bilge pump incorporating surge chambers as claimed in applicants c-o-pending application Ser. No. 381,141 filed July 8, 1964;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the pump shown in FIG. 1;

one end.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the pump of FIG. 1 with parts broken away for clarity of disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the surge chamber of FIG. 1, taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the improved surge chamber as contemplated by the present invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference through the several views.

For understanding of the present invention one must relate the improved surge chamber to a pump structure as shown in the drawings. The pump there shown includes a generally rectangular base 1 having a front face 2, a back face 3, sides 4 and a top surface 5. A pair of generally rectangular cavities 6 and 7 are formed in the upper surface of the base adjacent its back side 3. The cavities 6 and 7 are laterally aligned and extend substantially the depth of the base.

Parallel inlet and discharge passages 8 and 9 are formed in and adjacent the bottom of the base 1 to respectively open at one end into the bottoms of the respective cavities 6 and 7 and at their other ends from the front face 2. Tubular adapters 10 and 11 are fixed in the front face 2 to respectively define the openings to the passages 8 and 9.

A pair of laterally aligned cylindrical recesses 12 and 13 are formed in the upper surface of the base 1 adjacent its front face 2. The recess 12 opens at its bottom to the passage 8 while the recess 13 opens at its bottom to the passage 9. Each of the recesses 12 and 13 is counterbored at the upper surface of the base 1 to provide shoulders inwardly thereof, respectively seating an intake valve unit 14 and a discharge valve unit 15 in bridging relation thereto. The units 14 and 15 provide conventional oneway valving action in a manner to be further described.

Bolted over the top surface of the base 1, adjacent its front face 2, is a base plate 16 of a diaphragm holder 17. The plate 16 has an elliptical reoess centrally of its upper surface. The recessed portion of the plate 16 includes a pair of apertures 18 and 19 which respectively align with the recesses 12 and 13. The plate 16 also has an elliptical groove 20 in its uppermost surface bounding the apertures 18 and 19.

The top plate 21 of the holder 17 is superposed on the plate 16 and has a peripheral configuration identical therewith. The plate 21 has an elliptical aperture centrally thereof and a groove 22 in its bottom which mates with the groove 20. The grooves 20 and 22 are arranged tion to the valve units 14 and 15 and form a chamber therebetween. Plate 21 also has opposite vertical projections 24 to the front and rear edges thereof, adjacent Elliptical plates 25 and 26 are fixed to opposite sides of diaphragm 23 by a bolt 27' which extends centrally therethrough to project vertically and engage in the dependent extremity of an arm 27. The plates and the diaphragm are thereby positioned in fixed relation to the arm27.

Plates 25 and 26 are centered on the diaphragm and extend substantially its length and width. It is provided that these plates aredished outwardly from the diaphragm in opposite directions and rimmed by a flexible fold of the diaphragm, as may be seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The projections 24 on the top plate 21 support a bearing block 28 adjacent the arm 27. Block 28 rotatably mounts a shaft 29 having an eccentrically projected extremity 30'. The projection 30 extends through a bearing 31 fixed in the annularly formed upper extremity of the arm 27. As may be readily seen, drive of the shaft 29 produces an eccentric movement of the arm 27 as and for purposes to be further described.

A plate 32 is fixed to the outer face of bearing block 28 adjacent one end of the plate 21 to project vertically, in a plane perpendicular thereto. Plate 32 has an aperture for the extension of shaft 29 therethrough. Shaft 29 has a large pulley 33 fixed to its projected extremity remote from the eccentric 30. Pulley 33 has teeth 34 peripherally thereof in the manner of a gear.

A motor 35 mounts to project perpendicular to the plate 32 over and in spaced relation to the shaft 29 and diaphragm holder 17. Motor bolts 36 project from one end abutting plate 32, respectively through an aperture 37 and an arcuate slot 38 therein, to mount nuts 39 which are adjustable thereon to fix the motor to the plate 32.

An opening in plate 32 intermediate aperture 37 and slot 38 accommodates the projection of the motor shaft 40 therethrough above and parallel to the shaft 29. Shaft 40 mounts a small pulley 40 similar to and co-planar with the gear pulley 33. A gear type continuous flexible belt 41 having teeth to its inner face operatively engages thereby about the pulleys to give the effect of a positive power transmission therebetween. This is produced without the friction, noise or lubrication problems incidental to the use of a conventional gear drive.

It will be obvious that the motor 35 can be quickly removed from plate 32 by merely disconnecting the two motor bolts. Also, release of the tension on pulley belt 41 can be readily achieved by merely loosening the nut 39 on the bolt 36 extending through the slot 3-8 and moving the bolt in the slot to the degree necessary.

In accordance with the invention claimed in applicants co-pending application 381,141, mounted over the base 1, to its rear, is an integral shell-like structure 42 providing surge chambers 43 and 44 which respectively position over the cavities 6 and 7. The shell 42 is formed with a central vertical partition to respectively define the chambers 43 and 44 to either side. Each chamber opens from its bottom, the chamber 43 being open to the cavity 6 and the chamber 44 being open to the cavity 7. Integrated to the shell wall structure and partition forming each of the surge chambers, substantially the length thereof, are vertically oriented, rectangularly intersected plates 45.

A portion of the plates 45 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to extend from front to rear of the base 1. This portion is rectangularly intersected by other vertically oriented plates 45 at right angles thereto. The rectangularly intersected plates 45 thereby provide a plurality of vertically extending recesses forming elongated pockets in each surge chamber. They additionally provide a plurality of intersecting vertical .bafiles presenting their lower edges at the openings to the chambers 43 and 44.

Thus, as the shell structure 42 is applied over the base 1, the chambers 43 and 44 respectively communicate with and present the lower edges of their plates 45 to the cavities 6 and 7 to function in a manner to be further described.

Formed in the shell structure 42, adjacent its upper extremity, is a horizontal pressure passage 48 which communicates with the upper end of the surge chamber 43 by means of an aperture 47 in the shell structure. Pressure switches are schematically shown in the drawing to communicate with the passage 48, to either end, in the event they may be needed. Passage 48 is shown sealed at one end by a plug.

In contrast, a modified form of surge chamber in accordance with the present invention, preferred in many instances, is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. In this instance flexible diaphragms 49 are provided, in a pump as previously described, at the top of its base 1 to seal the upper extremities of, or, in other words, the openings from the cavities 6 and 7. In the embodiment illustrated the diaphragms include therein a series of convolutions which allow them to flex up and down in an effective resilient fashion. Superposed in this instance on the base 1 to provide surge chambers, is a relatively shallow shell-like structure 42'. The structure 42' is formed of an upper and a lower section. The lowermost section consists of a wall structure, the bottom of which seats to the base 1 to fix the first mentioned diaphrgams 49 to bridge the openings to the cavities 6 and 7. The upper section consists of a relatively shallow cap. Confined between the lower edges of the cap and the upper edges of thelower wall section of the structure 42' are a pair of diaphragms 50. The diaphragms 50, which are similar in form to the diaphragms 49, define, in respect to each chamber in the shell structure 42', an air pocket 51 therebelow and an air pocket 52 thereabove. It will of course be obvious that the cap portion and lower wall section of the structure 42 include central partitions to establish a line of demarcation to respectively provide a surge chamber over the cavity 6 and a surge chamber over the cavity 7. It will therefore be seen that the lowermost extremity of each chamber is bridged by a diaphragm 49 and an intermediate section of the shallow extent of each chamber is bridged by diaphragm 50. As shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the cap portion of the shell structure 42 has an opening which in use of the invention embodiment described may be either sealed with an ordinary plug or, in the alternative, where circumstances so require, a pressure switch for delivering a signal corresponding to the pressure exerted on the lowermost diaphragm 49 by fluid moving upwardly from the cavity 6.

The function of the pump including the shallow surge chambers as just described is as follows. As the pump motor 35 is energized, it provides an instant positive frictionless drive of the shaft 29 through the motor shaft 40, pulley 4t), belt 41 and pulley 33. This produces an eccentric reciprocation of the diaphragm 23. The diaphragm 23 is rocked thereby to pull water into the inlet passage 8 and through the valve 14 and to simultaneously push water through valve 15 to outlet passage 9. This provides a smooth double pumping action. As the water in passages 8 and 9 tends to surge back into the vicinity of the cavities 6 and 7 in the base 1, its natural action is to flow upwardly to the overlying surge chambers defined in the shell structure 42. The surge in each instance will be bro-ken by contact with a corrugated diaphragm 49. The respective diaphragms 49 will flex under the influence of the surge, cushioned by the air in the pocket thereaibove. The shock occasioned thereby will be further absorbed through the upper diaphragms 50 and the air pockets defined thereabove in the shell-like structure 42.

As may be readily seen, the convolutions provided in the diaphragms enable them to readily adapt to the nature and direction of the surge pressures in a manner to effect a uniform suppression of the shock occasioned thereby. Moreover, by using the plurality of vertically spaced air pockets 51 and 52 as separated by the resilient corrugated diaphragms 50, one achieves a most effective cushioning of water pulsation. The reaction forces produced by the included diaphragms, as interposed in reference to surge from the respective cavities 6 and 7, effect a condition insuring that pulsations in the flow of water to and from the pump are substantially eliminated.

Note that in use of this embodiment of the present invention the surging water cannot absorb any portion of the air in the surge chambers.

It may thus be seen that the embodiments of the surge chambers employing diaphragms as described have significant utility when properly applied to a pump such as here illustrated.

Further, it will be seen that surge chambers of the simplicity just described may be fabricated in a very economical manner, easily installed and readily maintained.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. For use with a pump or like structure including a base having a top surface and an interior generally horizontal liquid flow passage opening at one point through one side of said base and at another to a liquid chamber in said base, there being an opening from said chamber through said top surface, apparatus comprising flexible membrane means stretched across said opening with its peripheral edge seated to said top surface, the underside of said membrane being exposed to contact with the liquid in said chamber, a shell-like structure rising vertically from said top surface of said base having a hollow interior aligning with said opening, the bottom of said structure at said hollow interior being open and defining a periphery engaged with and clamping said membrane to said base, the top of said structure at said hollow interior being closed, and another flexible membrane stretched across the hollow interior of said structure at an intermediate location between the top and bottom thereof in vertically spaced parallel relation to the first said membrane, said other membrane connecting to said structure in a fluid tight manner and defining a first air chamber between said membranes and a second air chamber in superposed relation to the first between said other membrane and the top of said shell-like structure.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 for application to base means having plural passages and liquid chambers as described, the liquid chambers disposing in a relatively side-by-side relation and each communicating with a respective flow passage, there being an opening from each chamber through said top surface, characterized in that said shell-like structure is common to said liquid chambers and has separated hollow interiors aligning with the respective openings, said structure having its open end engage with and commonly clamping membrane means over said respective openings and said separated hollow interiors each having an individual membrane defining first and second air chambers therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,927 6/ 1931 Emanueli 138-30 1,944,340 1/1934 Zubaty et al. 2,290,337 7/1942 Knauth 138-30 2,612,215 9/1952 Edwards 138-30 X 2,962,612 11/1960 Lung 310-87 FOREIGN PATENTS 790,519 2/ 1958 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. B. E. KILE, T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiners. 

1. FOR USE WITH A PUMP OR LIKE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE HAVING A TOP SURFACE AND AN INTERIOR GENERALLY HORIZONTAL LIQUID FLOW PASSAGE OPENING AT ONE POINT THROUGH ONE SIDE OF SAID BASE AND AT ANOTHER TO A LIQUID CHAMBER IN SAID BASE, THERE BEING AN OPENING FROM SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID TOP SURACE, APPARTUS COMPRISING FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE MEANS STRETCHED ACROSS SAID OPENING WITH ITS PERIPHERAL EDGE SEATED TO SAID TOP SURFACE, THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MEMBRANE BEING EXPOSED TO CONTACT WITH THE LIQUID IN SAID CHAMBER, A SHELL-LIKE STRUCTURE RISING VERTICALLY FROM SAID TOP SURFACE OF SAID BASE HAVING A HOLLOW INTERIOR ALIGNING WITH SAID OPENING, THE BOTTOM OF SAID STRUTURE AT SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR BEING OPEN AND DEFINING A PERIPHERY ENGAGED WITH AND CLAMPING SAID MEMBRANCE TO SAID BASE, THE TOP OF SAID STRUCTURE AT SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR BEING CLOSED, AND ANOTHER FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE STRETCHED ACROSS THE HOLLOW INTERIOR OF SAID STRUCTURE AT AN INTERMEDIATE LOCATION BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF IN VERTICALLY SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO THE FIRST SAID MEMBRANE, SAID OTHER MEMBRANCE CONNECTING TO SAID STRUCTURE IN A FLUID TIGHT MANNER AND DEFINING A FIRST AIR CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID MEMBRANCES AND A SECOND AIR CHAMBER IN SUPERPOSED RELATION TO THE FIRST BETWEEN SAID OTHER MEMBRANE AND THE TOP OF SAID SHEEL-LIKE STRUCTURE. 